My.Collaborations: YourKloset.Com.#12

My newest article for YourKloset.com is out. It talks about Sex as a tool for fashion brands in marketing; all strategies by marketing mavens in order to keep their names out there. Debating if Sex Sells is somewhat unrealistic as we know that sexual connotations always stir some kind of reaction, therefore keeping a brands name out there. However, in today's society, do we still need so much sexual images or references to be relevant?


You can read my article called "Sex Sells...?" by clicking here.


I would love to know your take on this as well as what are in your minds the most controversial Fashion Ad you have ever seen.


Here are pictures of some other controversial fashion Ad campaigns by leading brands and designers.

American.Apparel

Diesel

Emanuel.Ungaro

Sisley

Tom.Ford

-The.Shoe.Freak

(source: www.fashionist.ca)

Fall.2011.Handbags.Fashion.Trend: Textured.Metallics

Metallics have been constantly showing up on runways for the past few seasons now, but for the Fall.2011 season, they have been used in every segment of one's wardrobe. In the handbag category, metallics were often used as trims on big bags or, when used all over, on smaller bags likes clutches. But this season, they are used on almost every shape out there, and most importantly, as the main fabric. Therefore, textured fabrics are used by designers in order to tame down the shininess and give the style a new dimension. Textured fabrics such as cracked, chopped, distressed &/or grainy leathers, as well as animal skins (snakes, crocos and ostrich to name a few) in full on metallic colors such as gold, silver, rose gold, pewters and bronze.

Mulberry is leading the way with this trend by interpreting it on their iconic "Alexa" and "Bayswater" styles as seen below:

Mulberry's.'Alexa'

Mulberry's.'Bayswater'

In the below video, many more options in the Textured Metallics trend in Handbags for Fall.2011 are featured.

Are you ladies digging the trend?

-The.Shoe.Freak

(source: net-a-porter.com/nordstrom.com)

Please.Excuse.My.M.I.A.

To All,

please excuse my lack of posts as of late. I have been Missing In Action for the past few weeks, being busy traveling and working extra hard on my day job; my design career. Plenty of new posts coming up very soon, promise. Please stay tuned!

I leave you with these Ladies.&.Mens.Shoes.Of.The.Day images for all to gush over...

-Ladies.Shoes.Of.The.Day

(Giuseppe.Zanotti.Fall.2011)

(Giuseppe.Zanotti.Fall.2011)

(Lanvin.Fall.2011)

-Mens.Shoes.Of.The.Day

(Alexander.McQueen.Fall.2011)

(Opening.Ceremony.Fall.2011)

(Zara.Fall.2011)

Enjoy!

-The.Shoe.Freak

(source: giuseppezanottidesign.com/mrporter.com/luisaviaroma.com/zara.com)

Shoes.Of.The.Day: Buckles

This installment of my Shoes.Of.The.Day segment is based on the countless hours of research I do every season in the name of fashion. While looking through all the pictures of shoes I had saved on my laptop, I realized most of them had buckles adorned to them, either multiple ones or just the simple lonely one on a pair of boot. No matter what, this realization made me push further into the research stage. And this led me to conclude that buckles were in fact a big 'detail' trend for Fall.2011, especially in the footwear industry.

Buckles can be viewed as trivial and overlooked by consumers but in fact, they are detail-oriented pieces that add significant purpose and value to a design. This being said, there are many different varieties of buckles, in different shapes and forms, with different qualities. Of course, this adds, determines and justifies price tags of an item. Designers use them wisely as variables in their creations. 

Below are my Shoes.Of.The.Day with buckles as a prominent detail. They are both from Alexander McQueen, which I have to admit, is my designer of the moment.

-Ladies.Shoes.Of.The.Day

(Alexander.McQueen.Fall.2011)

Who: Alexander McQueen 
What: Buckled suede boot
Why: How gorgeous are these boots ladies? The color, a rich Cobalt Blue, which is a strong Fall.2011 color by the way, is beautiful. The detailing, so McQueen, is interesting with the turned-over flap and appealing forms of the panels. The blocked heel is perfectly proportioned to the rest of the design elements. And finally, the fastening tabs with the gold buckles add the final touch. Swoon Ladies, Swoon!

How Much: $1,225 Us (@net-a-porter.com)

-Mens.Shoes.Of.The.Day

(Alexander.McQueen.Fall.2011)

Who: Alexander McQueen 
What: Leather triple buckle boot
Why: Everything about this boot is amazing. Love the triple buckled flap. Love the gold metal tips at the round cap toe and heel. Love the thick stitching. Love the leather sole. Love the right height of the ankle boot. All these fine design and detail elements that are subtle yet oh so cool and modern. I love love love and want them so bad!!!

How Much: $955 Us (@barneys.com)

And finally, since there was way too many options out there, I have assembled some of my favorites in the below video. Enjoy!

Which ones are your favorites?

-The.Shoe.Freak

(source: barneys.com, bergdorfgoodman.com, saksfifthavenue.com, nordstrom.com, luisaviaroma.com, mrporter.com, net-a-porter.com)

 

Looks.Of.The.Day

Looks.Of.The.Day is a new segment I have started on my Facebook page exclusively which showcases one head-to-toe look each for both sexes. The criteria is pretty simple and is similar to my regular Shoes.Of.The.Day and Bags.Of.The.Day segments; total looks that I like and would wear (when it comes to men clothing of course). Total looks meaning the end result and the way the look is styled and put together; from hair to make-up, accessories to shoes and obviously, the clothes. Sometimes both the men and ladies look will be coordinated and defined by colors, trends, or details and sometimes they will be completely differentiated.

Below are examples of Looks.Of.The.Day as seen on The.Shoe.Freak's FB page:

(3.1.Phillip.Lim.Fall.2011/Louis.Vuitton.Fall.2011)

If you haven't visited my Facebook page (and "liked" it, just saying), click here.

What are your favorite Looks.Of.The.Day?

-The.Shoe.Freak

(source: style.com)

Mens.Footwear.Designer: H.by.Hudson.Fall.2011

My previous post, about footwear, was for the ladies. Now comes the turn for you gentlemen. Hudson, a London footwear company primarily focused on menswear produces gorgeous footwear for us fashion lovers. Focused on high quality & designed footwear with an affordable price tag. The company, after establishing their Hudson label, created H by Hudson, the rebellious little brother brand which enabled the company to reach a broader scope of customer while keeping the successful DNA of the company intact. The design elements & creative concept as well as the first-rate workmanship & overall quality offered by H by Hudson are simply amazing. 

I just love the brand so much as I've featured a few pairs already on The.Shoe.Freak, and below are reasons why (from their Fall.2011 collection):

Montreal is slowly (but surely) catching up to the H by Hudson commotion. You can find them at great Montreal-based online retailer SSENSE.

And finally ladies, the company has created a smaller range of the H by Hudson collection due to high demand and requests from customers.Check it out here.

-The.Shoe.Freak

(source: hudsonshoes.com)

My.Collaborations: YourKloset.Com.#11

My collaboration with the blogazine YourKloset.com, as mentioned in previous posts, is a monthly one. Therefore, I am already at my 11th article for the blogazine. Time passes by so fast, it is somewhat surreal. I am mentioning my 11th article on my blog as I thought it was very pertinent for my readers to know about it. You have all been witness of my constant babble of everything that is animal skins recently. My newest article for YourKloset called "To Fur or Not to Fur, that is the question..." hypes the trends but also confronts and discusses the debates which these trends create.

Intrigued? You can click here to read the article in its entirety.

I would love to get your feedback and comments on the subject.

For all my other articles for YourKloset.com, you can click here.

-The.Shoe.Freak